Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
32–33 mpgcombined; city 29–30, highway 37–38; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$9,840–$10,150U.S. average; Ohio $8,790–$9,070 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2019 Spark. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Spark. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Air bags
7
4
0
3
Power train
2
0
0
0
Service brakes
2
0
0
0
Tires
2
0
0
0
Electrical system
1
0
0
0
Engine
1
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
1
0
0
0
Seat belts
1
0
0
0
Structure
1
1
0
1
Unknown or other
1
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2019 Spark over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Air bags; Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Buick Encore, Chevrolet Spark, Traverse, and Trax vehicles. The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicle may not have been turned off of "manufacturing mode," preventing the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
Risk: If the air bags do not deploy in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM module to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18365.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 576 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2019 Spark, the latest on Sep 26, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (210), electrical system (97), unknown or other (80), engine and engine cooling (78), power train (64).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2019 Spark.
EPA class: subcompact cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 7–8 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Spark Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
30 / 38 / 33
Spark Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
29 / 38 / 33
Spark ACTIV Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
30 / 37 / 33
Spark ACTIV Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
29 / 37 / 32
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data